I have a 1985 F-250 4x2 and want to convert it to a 4x4. My Question is if it is possible. I know that my 4x2 frame doesn't have that dimple at the front of the frame to put leafs on the front. Can I get a 4x4 TTB system that will work with a coil over system like mine? maybe even a solid front axle? Any ideas?
Billy

 

My old '78 F150 was a solid axle Dana 44 with coils, so yes it should be possible if you're using an axle off an older truck. You actually want the Dana44 HD solid axle (8 bolt hubs and thicker axle tube walls). Other than that, I'm sure a Dana 50 TTB can be made to work with the right spring perches welded in to the housings...

 

Anything is possible if you have enough money and/or ability and tools.

Either route will take some time to do, and the truck will not be driveable while working on it.

 

a really important thing to know is, is it a daily driver or a project truck?????
like Dave said, you're going to be out of it for a while if you swap. i would CERTAINLY use a solid front axle if you do. well worth not having to screw with the IFS like mine. it's awful. i'd almost be tempted to swap trucks with you, but then I wouldn't have a 4 X 4 either. LOL. sometimes i wish it was a 2 X 4 because most of my off roading now is on a john deere dozer or a trackhoe.

speedrdr

 

I recently started a concrete restoration and waterproofing business. I bought the old 1985 F-250 4x2 6.9 Diesel for that purpose. (The guy I bought it from ($1500) rebuilt the engine and put in a newer tranny. Then paints it cammo in hopes to build the ultimate hunting truck. He got to the 4x4 part and ran out of steam. The truck sat in front of his home and eventually his wife made him get rid of it with the bribe that "he could go buy a brand new one" I stole it! I want it to be 4x4 because with Alberta storms, it can get really bad out there. Especially of you are in a rural area. 4x4 is a must. The Time, Ability and Tools aren't the trouble. It will be a daily driver from April to November. I hope to do the swap in the off season. A Dana 44 Solid front axle is what im looking at putting in.

 

well, in that case, i'd say jump in and get your feet wet! with a bargain like that, it don't sound like you'll get that feeling of pouring money into a black hole. LOL the last rebuild i did of any consequence was a '70 bronco that started at $2,500. when i sold it several years later for $4,000, i had a total of 12 grand in it. don't think you'll have that problem though. keep us posted on the install. i'd like to put a solid axle under the front of mine but don't have the time or money right now. good luck! looks like fun!!!

speedrdr

 

I'm not sure on Fords but on Dodges the steering boxes are different betwwen 2wd and 4wd. If I wasn't so lazy and it wasn't raining I'd go look at mine and check for you. Also, again speaking of Dodges, this might be a good thing as the 2wd set-up is perfect for cross-over steering (which will require even more custom fabing).
I've done this to Dodge trucks and probably later will do it to my '86 2wd IDI. I would recommend finding a complete truck with the front axle you want to use as you will find ALL KINDS of small parts the donor truck will have that you will have to "find" when you do the conversion.
Here's a partial list:
-steering box?
-drag link
-steering stablizer?
-transfer case (and adapter IF you have the same tranny as donor)
-drivelines (front and rear) I think it's easier/cheaper to have the origional lines altered than have new ones made
-shifter linkage
-shifter and ****
-floor pan cover/access panel
-shifter boot
-shocks?
-upper shock mounts
-steering arm?
-brake lines

I probably forgot some stuff but you get the idea.

Plus you can sell the left overs for scrap, easily could be 200-400 bucks.

One way around the straight-axle with coil spring deal would be to use a 70s F-150 front Dana 44 and swap on 3/4 ton "outers". I'd definitely get the 3/4 ton stuff with disc brakes, not the older drums.

All of the conversions I've done have been with leaf springs as the 2wd and 4wd Dodge frames are almost identical once you get rid of all of the 2wd hardware.
I'm sure it would be A LOT easier to use a 3/4 or (rare) 1-ton late 70's donor and fab. custom leaf spring hangers instead of all of the coil/radius arm stuff.

I'm going to use a Dodge Dana 60 I already have and an International divorced NP205, stubby driveline and shifter, linkage etc. I already own to hook it to the 2wd T-19 that's in the truck. I'll modify (shorten) the rear Ford driveline and modify the front Intl. driveline if necessary.
If you go the divorced x-case route you HAVE to use a stubby driveline between the trans. and case. I hooked my 440/727 in my RamCharger up to a divorced NP205 with just a U-joint because NOBODY could tell me why the factories always used short driveshafts. The reason is that U-joints have to run with some angularity or they "gaul" (there's a technical term for it that I can't remember). When you take one of the caps off it looks like a BADLY worn out u-joint even though it only has a few miles on it. The cap will have deep notches in it that are the same size as the needle-bearings because all it is doing is taking a "side load" and not spinning around the trunion/shaft. A 500+ hp big block causes this pretty quickly in a mud bog.

 

78(?)-96(?)+ the power steering box is the same, no matter what f-series, ranger, E series, and whatever else ford used it on. the coils, shocks, steering linkage, pitman arm, etc. are a direct swap years for years. Some break points I know in '86, there was a change. You can swap directly from a 2x4 f-150, 4x4 f-150, and a 2x4 f-250.

The change comes with the D50, and D60 front axles in the f-250 4x4. So if you were able to find/convert a d44 into an hd, you can directly bolt that onto the coils. And all the rest of the steering linkage from either a 4x4 or 2x4 f-150 will bolt right up. The only thing is the d44 solid probibally requires a drop pitman arm.

That swap would be easy around here. I see '70's broncos/f-150's for sale all over. $500 could get you a complete front axle swap, and sell the rest for 350-450 in scrap.